Montana Vital Records: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 03:01, 23 February 2024

Montana Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Record Types

Montana Background

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Vital Records Reference Dates[edit | edit source]

Montana vital records start the following years:

	Births	Marriages	Deaths
Earliest	1878*	County Formation	1884*
Statewide Registration	1907	-	1907

* The Montana Legislative Assembly passed a law in 1895 requiring local physicians and midwives to register births. In addition, the law required clergymen, coroners, sextons, and undertakers were to register deaths. Statewide registration of births and deaths was not required until 1907. Although not required, a few Montana counties kept birth and death records prior to 1895. For instance, Silverbow County has births beginning in 1878, and Yellowstone County has deaths beginning in 1884.^[1]

Montana Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online[edit | edit source]

Births[edit | edit source]

1830-2011 Montana County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
1840-2004 Montana County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry($)
1870-1986 Montana Birth Index, 1870-1986 at Ancestry — index ($)
1897-1988 Montana Birth Records, 1897-1988 at Ancestry — index ($)

Marriages[edit | edit source]

1600's to 1900's US Marriages - Montana, 1600's to 1900's at Findmypast — index & images ($)
1863-1960 Montana Marriages, 1863-1960 at Findmypast — index ($)
1865-1950 Montana County Marriages, 1865-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry($), MyHeritage($), Findmypast($)
1865-1987 Montana County Marriages, 1865-1987 at Ancestry; index & images ($)
1865-1993 Montana County Marriage Records, 1865-1993 at Ancestry; index only ($)
1889-1947 Montana Marriages, 1889-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only; Also at: Ancestry($), MyHeritage($)
1943-1986 Montana Marriage Records, 1943-1986 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Norske i Montana Marriages at Montana State Genealogy Society — index,
United States Western States Marriage Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: BYU Special Collections

Deaths[edit | edit source]

Pre-2002 Montana Death Registry Index, Pre-2002 at Montana State Genealogy Society — index
1830-2011 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011 at Ancestry - Index and images ($)
1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
1860-2007 Montana Death Index, 1860-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
1907-2018 Montana State Deaths, 1907-2018 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
1935-2014 US Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
1936-2007 US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($)
1954-2011 Montana Death Records, 1954-2011 at Findmypast — index ($)
1954-Onward Montana Deaths at MyHeritage; index & images ($)
1962-2014 US Social Security Death Index, 1962-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only

City & County Databases[edit | edit source]

1857-2010 Montana Lake County Records, 1857-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1865-2009 Montana Granite County Records, 1865-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1866-2010 Montana Sanders County Records, 1866-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1866-2012 Montana Meagher County Records, 1866-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1871-2007 Montana Flathead County Records, 1871-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1878-2011 Montana Rosebud County Records, 1878-2011 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1881-2011 Montana Yellowstone County Records, 1881-2011 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1881-2012 Montana Teton County Records, 1881-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1887-2012 Montana Judith Basin County Records, 1887-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1910-2012 Montana Pondera County Records, 1910-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1913-1960 Montana Toole County Records, 1913-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

1865-1950 Montana, County Divorce Records, 1865-1950 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Obtain Certificates[edit | edit source]

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Office of Vital Statistics
111 N Sanders, Room 209
Helena, MT 59604
Telephone: 1-888-877-1946
Email: HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov (Note: Applications are not accepted via E-mail.) The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's vital records are also listed at VitalRecords.com.

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

Some counties recorded births prior to 1895. These records have been kept by the clerk of the court in each county. A few of the early county records have been transcribed and published, and these are available at the FamilySearch Library. Statewide registration of vital statistics began in Montana in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920. Delayed registrations of births are included in the indexes maintained by the state office.

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

There is no centralized registration of marriage records. Each county generally began keeping marriage records soon after its organization. Write to the clerk of the district court for copies of marriage and divorce records.

The State Department of Health has an index to marriages beginning in 1943. This index helps to identify the county in which the marriage occurred. The original records are available only in the county. The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of many county marriage records.

Early marriages for many of the counties are searchable online at no cost on the Western States Marriage Index.

Gretna Greens. When a Montana couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, Idaho.^[2]

Death Records[edit | edit source]

The Montana State Genealogical Society maintains the Montana State Death Registry Index, Pre-1954 1954-2002 online at Death Records. Scroll to the bottom of the page to link to the time period you want to search. This database covers over 650 thousand records reported to the State from the 1800s through 2002.

Cause of Death[edit | edit source]

Causes of Death - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate

Substitute Records[edit | edit source]

Montana Church Records

Montana Cemetery Records

Montana Census

Montana Newspapers

Montana Obituaries

Montana Military Records

Montana Periodicals

Montana History

Tips[edit | edit source]

Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
If you're unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
Search for Vital records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records. Search for Montana to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Archives, Libraries and Societies[edit | edit source]

Montana Archives and Libraries

Montana Societies

Inventory of Vital Records[edit | edit source]

More information about the history and availability of vital records is in Guide to the Public Vital Statistics in Montana ^[3]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Provo,Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2004), 399, 406-407.
↑ "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" Arlene H Eakle's Genealogy Blog, 19 February 2007 (http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/: accessed 8 January 2011).
↑ Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Montana (Bozeman, Montana: Historical Records Survey, Montana State College, 1941); FamilySearch Library book 978.6 V2h; film 1036403 item 7; fiche 6046712.

[1] Alice Eichholz, ed. Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Provo,Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2004), 399, 406-407.

[Eakle1-2] "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" Arlene H Eakle's Genealogy Blog, 19 February 2007 (http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/: accessed 8 January 2011).

[null-3] Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Montana (Bozeman, Montana: Historical Records Survey, Montana State College, 1941); FamilySearch Library book 978.6 V2h; film 1036403 item 7; fiche 6046712.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Montana|Montana]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Montana_Vital_Records|Vital Records]]''
+{{MT-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
+| link3=[[Montana, United States Genealogy|Montana]]
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Montana Vital Records|Vital Records]]
+}}
-<br>
+{| width="70%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
+|-
-== Montana Birth, Marriage and Death Records  ==
+| width="44%" | __TOC__
+| valign="middle" | <center>'''[[Image:Vital Records Collage.JPG|center|250px|Vital Records Collage.JPG]] '''<br></center>
-[[Image:Vital Records.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
+|}
+=== Vital Records Reference Dates  ===
-__TOC__
-'''Introduction to Vital Records'''
-[[United States Vital Records|Vital Records]] consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]] recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. [[Locating United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]&nbsp;has&nbsp;additional research guidance&nbsp;on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be&nbsp;purchased from&nbsp;the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/montana.htm Montana Vital Records State Department of Health] or the&nbsp;County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also [https://familysearch.org/ Montana Statewide Indexes and Collections] at the Family History Library.
-== Vital Records Reference Dates  ==
 Montana vital records start the following years:
-<br>
-{| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
+{| width="70%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
 |-
 | width="16.6%" align="center" | <br>
@@ Line 33: / Line 31: @@
 | width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Statewide Registration
 | width="16.6%" align="center" | 1907
-| width="16.6%" align="center" | -&nbsp;
+| width="16.6%" align="center" | -
 | width="16.6%" align="center" | 1907
 |}
 <center></center>
-<nowiki>* </nowiki>The Montana Legislative Assembly passed a law in&nbsp;1895&nbsp;requiring local physicians and midwives to register births. In addition,&nbsp;the law required clergymen, coroners, sextons, and undertakers were to register&nbsp;deaths. Statewide registration of births and deaths was not required until 1907. Although&nbsp;not required, a few&nbsp;Montana counties kept&nbsp;birth and death records prior to 1895. For instance, Silverbow County has&nbsp;births&nbsp;beginning in 1878, and Yellowstone County has deaths beginning in 1884.<ref>Alice Eichholz, ed. ''Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources'', 3rd ed. (Provo,Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2004), 399, 406-407.</ref>
+<nowiki>* </nowiki>The Montana Legislative Assembly passed a law in 1895 requiring local physicians and midwives to register births. In addition, the law required clergymen, coroners, sextons, and undertakers were to register deaths. Statewide registration of births and deaths was not required until 1907. Although not required, a few Montana counties kept birth and death records prior to 1895. For instance, Silverbow County has births beginning in 1878, and Yellowstone County has deaths beginning in 1884.<ref>Alice Eichholz, ed. ''Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources'', 3rd ed. (Provo,Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2004), 399, 406-407.</ref>
-== Montana&nbsp;Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online  ==
+== Montana Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online  ==
+===Births===
+*'''1830-2011''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61255 Montana County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1840-2004''' {{RecordSearch|1930397|Montana County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, County Births and Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60061 Ancestry]($)''
+*'''1870-1986''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61471 Montana Birth Index, 1870-1986] at Ancestry — index ($)
+*'''1897-1988''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61591/ Montana Birth Records, 1897-1988] at Ancestry — index ($)
-The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Montana Vital Records which consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]].&nbsp; Most online resources for Montana Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to [[Contradictions and discrepancies|confirm the information]] in the index.
+===Marriages===
+*'''1600's to 1900's''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=montana US Marriages - Montana, 1600's to 1900's] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
+*'''1863-1960''' [http://www.findmypast.com/articles/world-records/full-list-of-united-states-records/birth-marriage-and-death/montana-marriages-1863-1960 Montana Marriages, 1863-1960] at Findmypast — index ($)
+*'''1865-1950''' {{RecordSearch|1609797|Montana County Marriages, 1865-1950}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60062 Ancestry]($), [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30163/montana-county-marriages-1865-1950?s=218489221 MyHeritage]($), [http://www.findmypast.com/articles/world-records/full-list-of-united-states-records/birth-marriage-and-death/montana-county-marriages-1865-1950 Findmypast]($)''
+*'''1865-1987''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61578 Montana County Marriages, 1865-1987] at Ancestry; index & images ($)
+*'''1865-1993''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61375 Montana County Marriage Records, 1865-1993] at Ancestry; index only ($)
+*'''1889-1947''' {{RecordSearch|1675397|Montana Marriages, 1889-1947}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index only; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60065 Ancestry]($), [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30193/montana-marriages-1889-1947?s=218489221 MyHeritage]($)''
+*'''1943-1986''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61478/ Montana Marriage Records, 1943-1986] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*[http://montanamsgs.org/norskemarriage.html Norske i Montana Marriages] at Montana State Genealogy Society — index,
+*{{RecordSearch|1854302|United States Western States Marriage Index}} at FamilySearch — [[United States Western States Marriage Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''Also at: [http://abish.byui.edu/Ppe-ialCollections/westernStates/search.cfm BYU Special Collections]''
-'''FamilySearch Historical Records'''
+===Deaths===
+*'''Pre-2002''' [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~mtmsgs/death_records.htm Montana Death Registry Index, Pre-2002] at Montana State Genealogy Society — index
+*'''1830-2011''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61255 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011] at Ancestry -  Index and images ($)
+*'''1840-2004''' {{RecordSearch|1930397|Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004}} at FamilySearch - [[Montana, County Births and Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images<br>
+*'''1860-2007''' {{RecordSearch|1941331|Montana Death Index, 1860-2007}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index only
+*'''1907-2018''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5437 Montana State Deaths, 1907-2018] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1935-2014''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 US Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] at Ancestry — index ($)
+*'''1936-2007''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007] at Ancestry — index ($)
+*'''1954-2011''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/montana-death-records Montana Death Records, 1954-2011] at Findmypast — index ($)
+*'''1954-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20631/montana-deaths?s=275764761 Montana Deaths] at MyHeritage; index & images ($)
+*'''1962-2014''' {{RecordSearch|1202535|US Social Security Death Index, 1962-2014}} at FamilySearch — [[United States Social Security Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index only
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1675397 Montana Marriages, 1889-1947] - Free
+===City & County Databases===
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1609797 Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950] - Free
+*'''1857-2010''' {{RecordSearch|1986787|Montana Lake County Records, 1857-2010}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Lake County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1865-2009''' {{RecordSearch|2029197|Montana Granite County Records, 1865-2009}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Granite County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1866-2010''' {{RecordSearch|2109937|Montana Sanders County Records, 1866-2010}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Sanders County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1866-2012''' {{RecordSearch|2228169|Montana Meagher County Records, 1866-2012}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Meagher County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1871-2007''' {{RecordSearch|1387035|Montana Flathead County Records, 1871-2007}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Flathead County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1878-2011''' {{RecordSearch|1908714|Montana Rosebud County Records, 1878-2011}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Rosebud County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1881-2011''' {{RecordSearch|2013531|Montana Yellowstone County Records, 1881-2011}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Yellowstone County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1881-2012''' {{RecordSearch|2170641|Montana Teton County Records, 1881-2012}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Teton County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1887-2012''' {{RecordSearch|2110919|Montana Judith Basin County Records, 1887-2012}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Judith Basin County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1910-2012''' {{RecordSearch|2127321|Montana Pondera County Records, 1910-2012}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Pondera County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1913-1960''' {{RecordSearch|2138517|Montana Toole County Records, 1913-1960}} at FamilySearch — [[Montana, Toole County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
-'''Wiki articles describing FamilySearch Historical Records collections are found at:'''
-*[[Montana, Cascade County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] - Free
-*[[Montana, County Births and Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Montana, County Births and Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] - Free<br>
-*[[Montana County Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] - Free
-*[[Montana, Flathead County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] - Free
-*[[Montana, Rosebud County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] - Free
-'''Other'''
+=== Divorce Records  ===
+*'''1865-1950''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61254 Montana, County Divorce Records, 1865-1950] at Ancestry - index & images ($)
-*[http://fhlfavorites.info/Links/USA_States/States_Frames/Montana/montana.htm Montana Links] from [http://fhlfavorites.info/ fhlfavorites.info] -&nbsp;Free
-*[http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/regional.html#Montana Montana Databases] listed on [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ Rootsweb.com]&nbsp;- Free
-*USGenWeb.org [http://www.mtgenweb.org/ Montana Site] - Free
-*The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for [http://www.daddezio.com/records/room/RR-MT-NDX.html Montana] - Free/$
-*Linkpendium Links for [http://www.linkpendium.com/genealogy/USA/MT/ Montana Genealogy and History], including individual Counties&nbsp;-&nbsp;Free/$&nbsp;
-*[http://www.progenealogists.com/ ProGenealogists'] Genealogy Slueth page&nbsp;contains a list of [http://progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthb.htm Vital Records]&nbsp;websites, including Montana. Press '''Ctrl + F''' on the keyboard to search for '''Montana''' or&nbsp;'''MT''' -&nbsp;Free/$
-*Search the [http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.aspx?tp=2&p=29&categoryFilterID=34&showPaging=true Montana Birth, Marriage &amp; Death] Records at Ancestry.com - $
-*Find&nbsp;Montana marriages&nbsp;listed in&nbsp;the [http://abish.byui.edu/specialCollections/westernStates/search.cfm Western States Marriage Index] - Free
-*Order [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/montana.htm Montana Certificates] online -&nbsp;<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1247073573052_30" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1247073573052_178" />$&nbsp;
-*[http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Montana.htm The Montana Department of Public Health] has copies of marriage records from July 1880. They have an index to records after 1916.
-=== Montana Vital Records  ===
+=== Obtain Certificates  ===
+*'''[http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/ Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services]'''<br>Office of Vital Statistics<br>111 N Sanders, Room 209 <br>Helena, MT 59604 <br>Telephone: 1-888-877-1946<br>Email: [mailto:HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov] (Note: Applications are not accepted via E-mail.) The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's vital records are also listed at [http://www.vitalrec.com VitalRecords.com].
-For general questions on how to obtain a birth or death certificate, and individual marriage and divorce information, please contact:
-'''[http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/ Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services]'''<br>Office of Vital Statistics<br>111 N Sanders, Room 209 <br>Helena, MT 59604 <br>Telephone: 1-888-877-1946<br>Email: [mailto:HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov] (Note: Applications are not accepted via E-mail.)
-The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's vital records are also listed at [http://www.vitalrec.com VitalRecords.com].
 == Birth Records  ==
-Some counties recored births prior to 1895. These records have been kept by the clerk of the court in each county. A few of the early county records have been transcribed and published, and these are available at the Family History Library. Statewide registration of vital statistics began in [[Montana]] in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920. Delayed registrations of births are included in the indexes maintained by the state office.<br>
+Some counties recorded births prior to 1895. These records have been kept by the clerk of the court in each county. A few of the early county records have been transcribed and published, and these are available at the FamilySearch Library. Statewide registration of vital statistics began in [[Montana Genealogy|Montana]] in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920. Delayed registrations of births are included in the indexes maintained by the state office.<br>
-=== Adoption Records  ===
-open / closed/ state statutes
 == Marriage Records  ==
@@ Line 89: / Line 97: @@
 There is no centralized registration of marriage records. Each county generally began keeping marriage records soon after its organization. Write to the clerk of the district court for copies of marriage and divorce records.
-The State Department of Health has an index to marriages beginning in 1943. This index helps to identify the county in which the marriage occurred. The original records are available only in the county. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of&nbsp;many county marriage records.
+The State Department of Health has an index to marriages beginning in 1943. This index helps to identify the county in which the marriage occurred. The original records are available only in the county. The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of many county marriage records.
-Early marriages for many of the counties&nbsp;are searchable online at no cost&nbsp;on the&nbsp;[[Western States Marriage Index|Western States Marriage Index]].
+Early marriages for many of the counties are searchable online at no cost on the [[Western States Marriage Index|Western States Marriage Index]].
-'''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When a Montana couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Kootenai County, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, Idaho]].<ref name="Eakle1">"Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" ''Arlene H Eakle's Genealogy Blog'', 19 February 2007 (http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/: accessed 8 January 2011).</ref>
+'''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When a Montana couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Kootenai County, Idaho Genealogy|Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, Idaho]].<ref name="Eakle1">"Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" ''Arlene H Eakle's Genealogy Blog'', 19 February 2007 (http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/: accessed 8 January 2011).</ref>
-'''A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:'''<br>[[Montana Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Montana Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>
+== Death Records  ==
-=== Divorce Records  ===
+[[Image:Montana, County Death (11-0696) DGS 398094 63.jpg|right|400px|Montana, County Death (11-0696) DGS 398094 63.jpg]]
-== Death Records  ==
+The Montana State Genealogical Society maintains the [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~mtmsgs/death_records.htm Montana State Death Registry Index, Pre-1954 1954-2002] online at [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~mtmsgs/death_records.htm Death Records.] Scroll to the bottom of the page to link to the time period you want to search. This database covers over 650 thousand records reported to the State from the 1800s through 2002.<br>
-The Montana State Genealogical Society maintains the [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mtmsgs/death_records.htm Montana State Death Registry Index, Pre-1954 1954-2002] online at [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mtmsgs/death_records.htm Death Records.] Scroll to the bottom of the page to link to the time period you want to search. This database covers over 650 thousand records reported to the State from the 1800s through 2002.<br>
-'''A wiki article descibing an online colleciton is founnd at:'''<br>
+=== Cause of Death ===
+*[[Historical Causes of Death|Causes of Death]] - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate
-[[Montana, Death Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Montana, Death Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>
 == Substitute Records  ==
@@ Line 116: / Line 122: @@
 [[Montana Newspapers|Montana Newspapers]]
+[[Montana Obituaries|Montana Obituaries]]
 [[Montana Military Records|Montana Military Records]]
@@ Line 121: / Line 129: @@
 [[Montana Periodicals|Montana Periodicals]]
 [[Montana History|Montana History]]
 == Tips  ==
-*Information listed on vital records is given by an informant.&nbsp;Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record.&nbsp;The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
+*Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
-*If you're unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial.&nbsp;A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
+*If you're unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
-*Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records.&nbsp;Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
+*Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
-*Search for Vital records in the Family History Library Catalog by using a '''Place Search''' and then choosing '''Vital Records'''.&nbsp;Search for '''Montana''' to locate records filed by the State and then search the '''name of the county''' to locate records kept by the county.
+*Search for Vital records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a '''Place Search''' and then choosing '''Vital Records'''. Search for '''Montana''' to locate records filed by the State and then search the '''name of the county''' to locate records kept by the county.
 == Archives, Libraries and Societies  ==
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 === Inventory of Vital Records  ===
-More information about the history and availability of vital records is in ''Guide to the Public Vital Statistics in Montana'' <ref name="null">''Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Montana'' (Bozeman, Montana: Historical Records Survey, Montana State College, 1941); Family History Library {{FHL|197151|title-id|disp=book 978.6 V2h; film 1036403 item 7; fiche 6046712}}.</ref>
+More information about the history and availability of vital records is in ''Guide to the Public Vital Statistics in Montana'' <ref name="null">''Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Montana'' (Bozeman, Montana: Historical Records Survey, Montana State College, 1941); FamilySearch Library {{FSC|197151|title-id|disp=book 978.6 V2h; film 1036403 item 7; fiche 6046712}}.</ref>
 == References  ==
-'''A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:'''<br>
-[[Montana, Cascade County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Montana, Cascade County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>
-<br>
 <references />
 {{Montana|Montana}} {{U.S. Vital Records}}
-[[Category:Montana|Vital]] [[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]] [[Category:United_States_Vital_Records]]
+[[Category:Montana_Vital_Records]]